DATE & TIME: july 11 1845, 1:08am LOCATION: hugo’s room STATUS: closed for @adinfinita
hands pause before knocking on the door, hesitating. it should not feel like a secret, like a sin, to seek the commander at this time of the night, but the gates to hell are nothing but damning no matter how good your intentions for opening them are.
and he is nothing if not a thing already half-cursed, burnt runes remind him. the cold runs its teeth over his skin, laughs at the mention of goodness. tells him, you fit right in with the devil waiting inside. go on, darling. don’t you think he’s waiting for you, counting all your sins?
snow knocks before he can change his mind.
“your dear pantea has been missing your company, commander dear. i would advise you grace her with your presence before she forgets it and finds another.” small quirks of a smile when doors open, dull lights catching dark eyes just enough for the pretense of some life flickering in them.
they both know this is not the reason for the visit. they play pretend well enough, waltzing between pretty lies and glimpses of teeth. for now, the excuse will do until the doors close.
“i heard you had quite the fright at the carnivale.” he tugs at his sleeves, a new bad habit. his skin stings in a code he cannot read, fingers gripping wrists to keep them silent. “a shame. you didn’t event stop by my tent for it — my, perhaps soon i shall be out of business.”